20–20–20 club

The 20–20–20 club is a term coined by sportswriters that describes a fairly exclusive group of Major League Baseball players: those who have reached the 20 double, 20 triple, and 20 home run plateaus in the same season. Through the 2007 season, it has only been accomplished seven times. The term "club" is used rather loosely, as it is generally used by sports writers and fans to group players together under a common heading.

Historically there are numerous players who have hit 20 doubles and 20 home runs in a year. It is the requirement for triples, however, that makes accomplishing the task so difficult.

In 2007, for the first time, two players accomplished this feat in the same season: Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins. They also joined the 20–20–20–20 club.

20–20–20 seasons

Near members

Many players have come very close to joining this club, missing only by one,two or three triples or home runs.

*In 1895, Sam Thompson hit 45 doubles, 21 triples, and 18 home runs.

*In 1921 Rogers Hornsby hit 44 doubles, 18 triples, and 21 home runs.

*In 1925, Hazen "Kiki" Cuyler hit 43 doubles, 26 triples, and 18 home runs.

*Also in 1925, Leon "Goose" Goslin hit 34 doubles, 20 triples, and 18 home runs.

*In 1927, Lou Gehrig hit 52 doubles, 18 triples and 47 home runs. In 1930, he came close a second time, hitting 42 doubles, 17 triples, and 41 home runs.

*In 1948, Stan Musial hit 46 doubles, 18 triples, and 39 home runs.

*In 1984, Ryne Sandberg hit 36 doubles, 19 triples, and 19 home runs.

20–20–20–20 club

The 20–20–20–20 club refers to the group of people who have, in addition to fulfilling the requirements of the 20–20–20 club, also collected 20 or more stolen bases during their 20–20–20 season. [cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/09/09/granderson.ap/|title=The 20-20-20-20 Club|publisher=Sports Illustrated] Currently, Frank Schulte, Willie Mays, Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins are members.

Rollins also became the second player (along with Willie Mays) to record a 20–20–20 season and a 30–30 season in the same year, and the second player (along with George Brett) to collect more than 200 hits in a 20–20–20 season.

Rollins is the first player in Major League history to collect more than 200 hits during a 20–20–20–20 season.

See also

* Baseball statistics
*30-30 club and 40-40 club, similar statistical "clubs" for home runs and stolen bases.

References